The First Harvest
26 When you go into the land the Lord your God is giving you as your ·own [L inheritance], to ·take it over [possess it] and live in it, 2 you must take some of the first harvest of crops that grow from the land the Lord your God is giving you. Put the food in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose to ·be worshiped [L cause his name to dwell; C Zion; 12:4–6]. 3 Go and say to the priest ·on duty at that time [in office in those days], “Today I declare before the Lord your God that I have come into the land the Lord promised our ·ancestors [fathers] that he would give us [Gen. 12:1–3].” 4 The priest will take your basket and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you shall announce before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean [C likely a reference to Jacob/Israel’s stay in Paddan-Aram; Gen. 28–31]. He went down to Egypt and lived as a ·foreigner [resident alien] with only a few people, but they became a great, powerful, and large nation there [Gen. 12:1–3]. 6 But the Egyptians were ·cruel [mean] to us, ·making us suffer [afflicting/humiliating us] and ·work very hard [giving us onerous work]. 7 So we ·prayed [cried out] to the Lord, the God of our ·ancestors [fathers], and he heard us. When he saw our ·trouble [affliction; humiliation], hard work, and ·suffering [oppression; Ex. 2:23–25; 3:7, 9], 8 the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his ·great power [L strong hand] and ·strength [L outstretched arm], using great terrors, signs, and ·miracles [wonders]. 9 Then he brought us to this place and gave us this ·fertile land [L land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8]. 10 Now I bring part of the first harvest from this land that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and ·foreigners [resident aliens] among you should rejoice, because the Lord your God has given good things to you and your ·family [L house].
12 ·Bring [Finish paying] a ·tenth [T tithe] of all your harvest the third year [14:28–29] (the year to give a ·tenth [T tithe] of your harvest). Give it to the Levites, ·foreigners [resident aliens], orphans, and widows so that they may eat in your ·towns [L gates] and be full. 13 Then say to the Lord your God, “I have taken out of my house ·the part of my harvest that belongs to God [L what is holy/consecrated/sacred], and I have given it to the Levites, ·foreigners [resident aliens], orphans, and widows. I have done everything you commanded me; I have not broken your commands, and I have not forgotten any of them. 14 I have not eaten any of the holy part while I was in ·sorrow [mourning]. I have not removed any of it while I was unclean [C in a ritual sense], and I have not offered it ·for [or to] dead people. I have obeyed you, the Lord my God, and have done everything you commanded me. 15 So look down from heaven, your holy home. Bless your people Israel and bless the land you have given us, which you ·promised [swore] to our ·ancestors [fathers]—a ·fertile land [L land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8].”
Obey the Lord’s Commands
16 Today the Lord your God commands you to obey all these ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and laws; be careful to obey them with ·your whole being [L all your heart/mind and all your soul]. 17 Today you have said that the Lord is your God, and you ·have promised to do what he wants you to do [L will walk on his way/path]—to keep his ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], commands, and laws. You have said you will ·obey him [listen to his voice]. 18 And today the Lord has said that you are his ·very own people [treasured/special possession; Ex. 19:5], as he has promised you. But you must obey his commands. 19 He will ·make you greater [set you higher] than all the other nations he made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a holy people to the Lord your God, as he has said [Ex. 19:6].